Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method comprising: aggregating, by a processing system including a processor, predictions of requests from subscriber devices located in a region for media content to obtain a content request prediction for the region, the content request prediction comprising a list of media content items; analyzing, by the processing system, the content request prediction to determine a priority order for the media content items according to a number of the subscriber devices predicted to request the media content items while at a predicted future location during a predetermined future time period, the number corresponding to a predicted audience, each of the media content items having a priority based at least in part on a time remaining until a time of a largest predicted audience; monitoring, by the processing system, traffic on a network used by the subscriber devices, and added traffic on the network due to copying of media content items to a storage device on the network, to predict a period of decreased network load; scheduling, by the processing system, copying of the media content items from a content server to the storage device located in the region, wherein the copying is scheduled to be performed during the predicted period of decreased network load and in accordance with the priority order; and copying, by the processing system, the media content items to the storage device according to the scheduling.
This invention relates to media content delivery and addresses the problem of efficiently distributing media content to subscriber devices within a specific geographic region. The method involves a processing system that first aggregates predictions of media content requests from subscriber devices in a region. This aggregation results in a content request prediction for the region, which is a list of media content items. The processing system then analyzes this prediction to establish a priority order for the media content items. This priority is determined by the number of subscriber devices predicted to request a particular media content item at a predicted future location during a specific future time period. This predicted number represents a predicted audience for each content item. The priority of each media content item is further influenced by the time remaining until its largest predicted audience is expected. Concurrently, the processing system monitors network traffic used by the subscriber devices, including any additional traffic generated by copying media content items to a local storage device within the network. This monitoring helps predict a period of decreased network load. Finally, the processing system schedules the copying of the prioritized media content items from a content server to the local storage device. This copying is strategically scheduled to occur during the predicted period of decreased network load and is performed in accordance with the established priority order. The media content items are then copied to the storage device as scheduled.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring is performed using node utilization information and link utilization information from the network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the priority is based in part on a likelihood of a first request from a first subscriber device for that media content item while at the predicted future location during the predetermined future time period.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: receiving, by the processing system, a second request for an item of media content from a second subscriber device; determining, by the processing system, whether the item of media content requested is available at the storage device; and responsive to determining that the item of media content requested is available at the storage device: redirecting, by the processing system, the second request to the storage device, and updating, by the processing system, a content usage database for the region.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storage device comprises a caching proxy.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the region has a residential gateway located therein, the residential gateway communicating with the caching proxy and with at least one of the subscriber devices.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring further comprises determining a currently available bandwidth for the copying of the media content items.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the scheduling further comprises optimizing the copying of the media content items in accordance with the currently available bandwidth.
This invention relates to optimizing the copying of media content items in a networked system, particularly focusing on efficient bandwidth utilization. The method involves scheduling the transfer of media content items between devices or storage locations while dynamically adjusting the copying process based on the currently available bandwidth. This ensures that media content is transferred in a manner that maximizes throughput without overloading the network, thereby improving overall system performance and user experience. The scheduling process may involve prioritizing certain media content items over others, such as based on user preferences, file size, or urgency, while continuously monitoring and adapting to fluctuations in available bandwidth. By dynamically optimizing the copying process, the method prevents network congestion and ensures that media content is transferred efficiently, even in environments with variable network conditions. This approach is particularly useful in systems where multiple devices or users share limited bandwidth resources, such as in home networks, enterprise environments, or cloud-based storage systems. The invention addresses the challenge of efficiently managing media content transfers in dynamic network environments, where bandwidth availability can change unpredictably.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the processing system, from the storage device a report including an amount of storage remaining at the storage device; and transmitting, by the processing system in response to the report, a command to the storage device to delete at least one of the media content items stored at the storage device.
This invention relates to a system for managing storage of media content in a storage device, particularly addressing the challenge of efficiently utilizing available storage space. The system includes a processing system that monitors storage capacity by receiving reports from the storage device indicating the remaining storage space. When the available storage falls below a certain threshold, the processing system automatically transmits a command to the storage device to delete one or more media content items, thereby freeing up space. The deletion process may prioritize older or less frequently accessed media content to optimize storage efficiency. The system ensures that storage capacity is dynamically managed without manual intervention, preventing storage exhaustion and maintaining operational efficiency. The storage device may be a networked storage system, a cloud-based storage service, or a local storage device, and the media content items may include files such as images, videos, or documents. The processing system may also log deletion events for auditing or recovery purposes. This approach automates storage management, reducing administrative overhead while ensuring critical storage capacity is maintained.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a content delivery network for delivering content to each of the subscriber devices on demand.
11. A device comprising: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: aggregating predictions of requests from subscriber devices located in a region for media content to obtain a content request prediction for the region; analyzing the content request prediction to determine a priority order for media content items according to a number of the subscriber devices predicted to request the media content items while at a predicted future location during a predetermined future time period, the number corresponding to a predicted audience, each of the media content items having a priority based at least in part on a time remaining until a time of a largest predicted audience; monitoring traffic on a network used by the subscriber devices, and added traffic on the network due to copying of the media content items to a storage device on the network, to predict a period of decreased network load; scheduling copying of the media content items from a content server to the storage device located in the region, wherein the copying is scheduled to be performed during the predicted period of decreased network load and in accordance with the priority order; and copying the media content items to the storage device according to the scheduling.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the priority is based in part on a likelihood of a first request from a first subscriber device for that media content item while at the predicted future location during the predetermined future time period.
13. The device of claim 12 , further comprising: receiving, by the processing system, a second request for an item of media content from a second subscriber device; determining, by the processing system, whether the item of media content requested is available at the storage device; and responsive to determining that the item of media content requested is available at the storage device: redirecting, by the processing system, the second request to the storage device, and updating, by the processing system, a content usage database for the region.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the storage device comprises a caching proxy, and wherein the region has a residential gateway located therein, the residential gateway communicating with the caching proxy and with at least one of the subscriber devices.
15. The device of claim 11 , further comprising: receiving, by the processing system, from the storage device a report including an amount of storage remaining at the storage device; and transmitting, by the processing system in response to the report, a command to the storage device to delete at least one of the media content items stored at the storage device.
16. A machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising: aggregating predictions of requests from subscriber devices located in a region for media content to obtain a content request prediction for the region; analyzing the content request prediction to determine a priority order for media content items according to a number of the subscriber devices predicted to request the media content items while at a predicted future location during a predetermined future time period, the number corresponding to a predicted audience, each of the media content items having a priority based at least in part on a time remaining until a time of a largest predicted audience; monitoring traffic on a network used by the subscriber devices, and added traffic on the network due to copying of the media content items to a storage device on the network, to predict a period of decreased network load, the monitoring further comprising determining a currently available bandwidth for the copying of the media content items; scheduling copying of the media content items from a content server to the storage device located in the region, wherein the copying is scheduled to be performed during the predicted period of decreased network load and in accordance with the priority order; and copying the media content items to the storage device according to the scheduling.
17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the monitoring is performed using node utilization information and link utilization information from the network.
18. The machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the priority is based in part on a likelihood of a first request from a first subscriber device for that media content item while at the predicted future location during the predetermined future time period.
19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a second request for an item of media content from a second subscriber device; determining whether the item of media content requested is available at the storage device; and responsive to determining that the item of media content requested is available at the storage device: redirecting the second request to the storage device, and updating a content usage database for the region.
This invention relates to a system for managing and distributing media content within a network, particularly in scenarios where content is cached or stored locally to reduce latency and bandwidth usage. The problem addressed is the inefficient distribution of media content in large networks, where repeated requests for the same content from multiple devices can strain central servers and increase latency. The system involves a machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, perform operations for handling media content requests. When a request for media content is received from a subscriber device, the system checks whether the requested content is available at a local storage device within the same region. If the content is available, the request is redirected to the storage device, reducing the load on central servers and improving response times. Additionally, the system updates a content usage database to track which content is frequently accessed in the region, enabling better caching decisions. The system also handles subsequent requests for the same content from other subscriber devices. If the content is already cached in the local storage device, the request is redirected to the storage device, and the content usage database is updated to reflect the access. This ensures that popular content remains readily available in the region, optimizing network performance and reducing redundant data transfers. The system dynamically adapts to usage patterns, improving efficiency in media content distribution.
20. The machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the storage device comprises a caching proxy, and wherein the region has a residential gateway located therein, the residential gateway communicating with the caching proxy and with at least one of the subscriber devices.
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February 16, 2021
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